French Bulldogs, more commonly known as “Frenchies,” are winning the hearts of many. The French Bulldog was named #6 in the American Kennel Club’s Most Popular Dog Breeds in America in 2015. Their growing popularity means there’s a growing number of Frenchies that need help, and that’s where The French Bulldog Rescue Network (FBRN) comes in to save the day.

The FBRN has a dedicated staff, committed volunteers and an ever-expanding network of Frenchie Fans. Together, the FBRN is rehabilitating and rehoming countless Frenchies in the United States and Canada.

We chatted with the FRBN’s Letitia Wallace about the organization, why its fundraisers are so successful and what advice she has for others looking to raise money on YouCaring.

1. Can you tell us about the French Bulldog Rescue Network and your mission?

FBRN’s mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome French Bulldogs in need from commercial breeding kennels, import brokers, public shelters, private rescue groups, owners or good samaritans. Our organization is composed solely of volunteers who nurture and foster these dogs as well as provide education and training. Our goal is to place healthy and happy French Bulldogs into forever homes.

2. You were able to reach your goal on your most recent campaign for Lyanna and Rhaegar in just 48 hours. What are the biggest factors that helped contribute to your success?

Timeliness and photos. We posted their story as soon as they came into our care and were checked out by our vet. And their pictures showed the public just how sick and pathetic they were. A picture speaks a thousand words!

3. How does the use of social media networks like Facebook benefit the French Bulldog Rescue Network? Do you use social media often to promote your fundraisers?

Facebook is our #1 marketing tool. It allows us to educate fellow Frenchie owners, share our foster dogs’ stories and ask for donations to help care for them, and feature Frenchies available for adoption while promoting adoption over buying from pet stores. Many people don’t realize that you can find purebred dogs in shelters and private rescue organizations, but you can.

And as a nonprofit with limited funds, we have utilized Facebook as a grassroots/word of mouth marketing platform. We have never once paid for sponsor advertising through Facebook, but our meaningful content has netted us almost 300,000 followers. And we have more than 55,000 followers on Instagram, all from sharing foster Frenchie photos.

4. How has utilizing YouCaring to raise funds benefitted the French Bulldog Rescue Network?

We have been able to raise funds fast for foster Frenchies that came to us with issues that required medical care with bills beyond our comfort zone. In addition to Lyanna and Rhaegar, there are many others.

5. What is the most important aspect of fundraising?

One of the most important aspects of raising funds for FBRN is transparency and legitimizing the need. Anyone can kick off a fundraiser. We’ve seen fundraisers out there that are scams, posting stolen photos of other dogs, or fundraisers hosted by people who have claimed tragedy but then turn around and post photos on their personal social sites of things they’ve just went out and purchased with their newly gained funds.

6. What advice would you give to others who are trying to start a fundraiser for their pet?

Share your clear and honest plea with a definitive call to action. When you’re asking strangers for money, you have to appeal to their hearts and let them know exactly how their donation is going to make an impact.

In total, the FBRN has raised more than $20,000 on YouCaring, which has helped save five Frenchies. If you would like to support the French Bulldog Rescue Network, you can in its most recent fundraising effort.

When it comes to giving, Millennials have become quite a big-hearted generation. A Millennial contributes an average of $481 annually to charity, according to Blackbaud’s Next Generation of American Giving report. But they’re donating more than money. Millennials are finding innovative ways to contribute their time, talents and skill sets to awesome causes—and they’re utilizing the power of crowdfunding to propel their efforts. In the first of a multipart blog series, Millennials Making an Impact, we profile a photographer standing up for breast cancer.

Camile Grace

Camile Grace, photographer, Long Island, N.Y.YouCaring Fundraiser: Heart of the WarriorMission: To help women with breast cancer celebrate their bodies, help them heal, remind them they are beautiful and highlight their inner warrior.

Camile Grace is an artist who goes above and beyond to bring life to her photos by telling a powerful story. After her good friend Lisa Mongiello was diagnosed with breast cancer, Camile was committed to finding a way to spread awareness of the disease while also empowering her friend and others struggling with the same fight. She decided to utilize her artistic storytelling skills in a gesture of true compassion. She hosted a Day of Empowerment for breast cancer fighters and survivors in June 2015. Camile offered women who attended the opportunity to get their makeup and hair done so she could take their portraits—all free of charge.

She captured stunning images of the women and realized the next step would be to showcase the photos to honor these cancer survivors, continue providing hope through empowerment and inspire others to contribute to the cause. She started a YouCaring fundraiser to drum up support for the costs associated with an exhibition and to donate to a local nonprofit. Her Heart of the Warrior exhibition was showcased from Jan. 9-31 at BAFFA Art Gallery in Sayville, N.Y., and was mentioned in the New York Times. She kicked off the exhibition with an opening reception filled with live music and raffles, with all proceeds going to an organization dedicated to helping those with breast cancer.

Heart of the Warrior portrait of Lisa by Camile

Camile was kind enough to chat with YouCaring about her campaign, what drives her to give and the different ways Millennials are impacting the world today.

What causes are you particularly moved by?

I am deeply concerned about the amount of breast cancer occurrences on Long Island. It’s very scary to know that 1 out of 6 women will go through this. The odds are daunting. I am moved by poverty in the U.S. We focus so much overseas and don’t focus on our problems right here at home. There are adults and children all over the U.S. who need assistance. It’s an issue that’s entering my consciousness more and more these days.

Why do you think Millennials are so cause-centric?

I think we are cause-centric because we have access to so much more information now in comparison to 30 years ago. We are a generation that has embraced the digital age and are using it to make a mark on the world.

How do you think the digital age has brought about new ways to give back?

I think it’s amazing that we can reach so many people by means of websites like YouCaring. The digital age enabling us to post videos, pictures and updates about the process and immediately put it out there for the world to see is so valuable. I think it gives people insight on the issue at hand. I think we all want to feel like we are part of something. Viewing a video about my Day of Empowerment exhibits what occurred that day and how it profoundly affected these women. Seeing these women go through the journey of that day and hearing their stories helps people to relate and empathize. It’s a very powerful thing.

Why did you pick YouCaring to host your fundraiser?

I picked YouCaring because of the nature of my project. YouCaring supports community in a way that other fundraising websites do not. Crowdfunding has helped decrease my out of pocket costs, which takes some of the pressure off facilitating an artistic fundraising endeavor. I wanted to do something wonderful for these women, and also get the community aware of what’s going on. I think it helped start a conversation on this very real and big issue in my community.

For this campaign, you used your passion for photography to show compassion for others. Are there other ways that you have given back through your art?

I think this has been the most significant way I’ve given back. I photographed an AIDS fundraiser a couple of years ago, which was a phenomenal event.

What prompted you to host a pro-bono Day of Empowerment for breast cancer survivors?

After my friend Lisa was diagnosed with breast cancer at 27 years old, I wanted to find a way to support her through her fight. And when I saw how positively Lisa responded, I decided I wanted to do something to raise awareness and help more women in my community. My main objective with this project is to make women like Lisa feel good about their bodies again, help them heal and remind them they are beautiful and powerful.

Camile’s Day of Empowerment

What inspired you to host a gallery exhibition?

I wanted to host the gallery event to give hope to these women. I wanted them to see the final product. I wanted them to see themselves how I saw them that day—beautiful, even through a devastating time. By having the gallery exhibition, I’ve been able to raise money for Breast Cancer Help Inc., a local organization that runs support groups, reiki, art classes, yoga classes and more for anyone going through cancer. I loved that it was about doing things together, creating through art. I think things like that help lift the spirit, even if it’s for a couple of hours. It’s a couple of hours not thinking about how much your body hurts, but instead, doing something positive.

Yes! They worked hand in hand. YouCaring let people see what I was doing, even if they didn’t donate right then and there. The pitch for my cause was in black and white with photos and video. People were much more excited to be at my fundraising event because of everything they had already seen me doing. Music helped create a celebratory vibe, and the raffles got local businesses involved and talking about it. People love the opportunity to win something. It’s all part of our need for hope. There was more laughter than tears at my opening night. People were inspired to support, inspired to find strength and inspired to celebrate survival instead of mourn the loss of the perfect health or the perfect body.

Camile and Kristen, a Warrior, at the Heart of the Warrior opening reception, BAFFA Art Gallery, Sayville, N.Y.

What have been some of the most inspirational and challenging aspects of the experience?

I had the women participate in a guided meditation and finish sentences such as, “I am…, I love…, I fear…, I feel powerful when…” I recorded everything, so I was able to go back and experience them going through this part of the day. Hearing what they had to say, reflecting on who they are and their journey was one of the most inspirational parts of this project. I found myself choosing and editing the photos that I felt represented them the best based on these statements. I made these quotes the titles of the pieces. A major challenge was making sure each and every woman was comfortable during the photo shoot, as well as comfortable with the photos I presented in the gallery. If I had the slightest doubt, I checked with her first. This is a very sensitive issue and I wanted to make sure I handled it with the utmost care and respect.

What advice would you give other Millennials who want to start an online fundraising campaign for a humanitarian cause?

I would say use everything at your fingertips. YouCaring makes it very easy to do that. Post videos, photos and updates. Link to all social media, including Facebook, Twitter and Youtube. People want to see why you are worthy of a donation. They want to feel like they are part of something great. Lastly, pick a cause that you’re heart is really in. If you are invested, others will be too.

Ready to make an impact like Camile has? Brainstorm ways you can tap into your skill set and be a changemaker. Start a free online fundraiser for a cause close to your heart.

One of the most influential generations ever, Millennials have changed the way of the world. They’re not slowing down, especially when it comes to giving back.

Millennials are the first generation to grow up alongside corporate social responsibility (CSR), and time and again, studies have shown they’re passionate about causes and motivated to connect, get involved and contribute to the greater good.

At the end of 2015, Millennials exceeded Baby Boomers as the nation’s largest living generation, and now make up the largest percentage of the professional workforce.

This optimistic and innovative generation was born into a technology-driven world where tasks are completed more efficiently and where social networks connect individuals across the world. With their grasp of social media and its limitless potential, their power to be a voice for causes and shape social trends is enormous.

Eighty-four percent of employed Millennials made a charitable donation in 2015.

Millennials regard their resources, such as time, networks and money, as having equal values, resulting in individuals often going beyond monetary donations as a way to become personally invested in a cause.

When inspired, Millennials share in micro ways, from small donations to short volunteer stints.

Peer influence plays an important part in motivating Millennials to volunteer, donate and raise funds for causes they care about.

Millennials are most likely to get involved with causes when organizations offer a range of volunteer opportunities, from short- to long-term projects, especially those that allow them to lend their knowledge and expertise.

Millennials give to make an impact. They want their contributions to have tangible results and know exactly who and how they helped.

Millennials certainly are making an impact in many ways, including starting their own fundraising campaigns to help others on crowdfunding sites like YouCaring, volunteering with local nonprofits as individuals and as companies, and donating to various charities.

For nonprofits, it’s vital to find new and creative ways to engage them.

Getting Millennials Involved

1. The Power of Peers

As the Millennial Impact Report revealed, Millennials are influenced by the decisions and actions of their peers, especially in the workforce. In fact, 65 percent of employed Millennials said they would be more likely to volunteer if their colleagues also participated. Nonprofits should consider this when seeking Millennial involvement. For example, a nonprofit could encourage group fundraising activities as a way to get an entire office to get involved. Millennials would view this as an opportunity for teambuilding while simultaneously giving back.

2. Stay Transparent

Millennials want transparency and feedback when it comes to trusting a nonprofit, and they want to see tangible results in order to measure their contribution. Nonprofits should aim to be clear in communications by outlining how donations are being utilized. When fundraising on YouCaring, that means outlining where the funds will go in the campaign story and updating the campaign page with progress reports.

3. Establish Emotional Ties

A Millennial’s philanthropic endeavors aren’t fueled by big incentives. Instead, they become involved in nonprofits, both inside and outside of work, for mostly altruistic intentions. In fact, they desire to establish connections with the causes they become involved with. Nonprofits would do well to focus on highlighting the emotional aspects of volunteering rather than providing incentives. For instance, a nonprofit can provide evidence of their success in the form of appealing and intimate narratives. Success stories can be powerful sources of persuasion for the generation that that wants to invest in causes that produce visible and lasting change.

4. New Types of Resources

According to the Millennial Impact Report, 77 percent of those surveyed said they would be more likely to volunteer when their personal skill set served to benefit the cause itself. This further reflects the generation’s hands-on approach to philanthropy. Nonprofits should consider asking Millennials to pledge their time by contributing their knowledge and expertise for certain projects related to the cause or to teach a set of skills as a way to raise funds. Millenials prefer experiences to products, so providing them an opportunity to develop meaningful memories through teaching could be a great way for nonprofits to engage Millennials in a cause for the long run.

Boarding for Good: One Great Way Millennials Are Using YouCaring

To pay tribute to his brother, best friend, and role model, who died of leukemia a few years ago, Jason Sherman took on quite a challenge with his friend Tommy Nisenson. They skateboarded about 400 miles from New York City to New Hampshire in an effort to raise funds for the Eric Sherman Memorial Scholarship Fund. Jason wanted to show that his brother Eric still has a positive impact on others. The money raised goes toward scholarships for other young boys to attend the William Lawrence Camp where Eric, Corey, and Matthew went during their childhood summers. Ambitious and optimistic, Jason and Tommy prove that Millenials are hands-on when it comes to philanthropy.

Elite Daily published a documentary video on the campaign in December 2015.

Stay tuned for our blog series, Millennials Making an Impact, which will profile several other great ways Millennials are using YouCaring to connect, get involved and fundraise for good.

PayPal is a great tool for online fundraising with YouCaring. Donations received are automatically transferred to your PayPal account, and you can transfer the funds directly to your bank account.

Signing up for a PayPal account is quick and easy. Go to PayPal’s sign up page, click the type of account you would like to set up, and complete the process.

There are a two simple steps you will need to take to be sure your fundraiser is connected your to your PayPal account and you can transfer funds to your bank account.

1. When you sign up for your PayPal account, be sure to go to your email inbox and open the email from PayPal service to complete your account setup. Confirm that your email is correct. Once you complete this step, you’ll need to select PayPal as your payment processor when creating your YouCaring fundraiser.

Clicking this link will take you to the following PayPal form:

Simply enter your First and Last name and PayPal email address to link your existing account.

*Note: Fundraisers with a goal of $5,000 or more are recommended to upgrade to a business PayPal account.

2. To withdraw your donations through PayPal, you will need to go through the process of linking your PayPal account to your bank account.

You are now ready to receive donations and withdraw the money. Follow these steps.

Log in to your PayPal account.

Click “Money” near the top of the page.

Click “Transfer money” to your bank account.

Select where you’re transferring the money from, and then select to where you’re transferring the money.

Choose the amount you want to transfer.

Select the bank account for the deposit, then click “Continue.”

Review the details, then click “Transfer.”

Depending on your bank, it can take three to four business days for the money to appear in your account.

Although YouCaring is free to use, payment processing charges by PayPal are unavoidable. These are charged at 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction to the recipient account. This is not a YouCaring fee. YouCaring does not charge platform fees to fundraise on its site.

For additional info on payment processors, withdrawing funds and other topics, refer to our Help Center or email us at [email protected]. You can also inquire via Live Chat on our site from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time) Monday through Friday.

Yourcrowdfunding campaign comes with a list of donors—but to think of it as a mere list is a mistake. More than just a record of past transactions, your donor list allows you to develop relationships with everyone who’s supported your cause. In the fundraising community, we call this donor stewardship.

As we’ve seen at YouCaring, good communication with donors doesn’t just help them feel good about the value of their donation; it can even lead to additional donations. Onestudy on donor-centered fundraising found that 85% of participants would donate again if they received a personal thank you, and 86% said they would even give a larger amount with that second donation.

In short, thanking your supporters is a must. Surprising them with a personal thank-you letter is even better. A good personal letter requires careful consideration of both your cause and the recipient—but it doesn’t have to be hard to write. To make it easy to share your gratitude, we’ve put together some helpful hints, along with and a handful of donation thank-you letter templates.

Five tips for writing the perfect donation thank-you letter

1. Be punctual

When someone donates to your campaign, think of it as the beginning of a conversation. A prompt thank you demonstrates your dedication to the cause and shows gratitude for the help you’ve already received. If you can, send a thank-you letter within 48 hours of receiving each donation.

2. Be sincere and inspiring

A prompt response will have more impact if it comes with a positive update or an inspiring message. Instead of simply saying “thank you” to donors, find ways to make your letter come to life. It could be as simple as including an inspirational quote that’s relevant to your cause or offering a brief personal note. Be sincere and speak from the heart. What did their donation mean to you personally? What did it mean to other people involved?

One caveat: When you’re deep in fundraising fever, it can be easy to ramble on about small campaign details. Avoid dragging your donors into the weeds of your campaign—instead, give them the 30,000-foot view.

3. Show them the money (where it’s going, that is)

An important part of your thank-you letter is showing exactly how the donation has contributed to your cause. Show donors that their money is going to good use. Include photos if possible. Describe what each donation has helped you accomplish, and keep your donors in the loop about future plans. If you’re hosting any fundraising events or donor appreciation parties, let your thank-you letter double as an invitation.

4. Add a personalized touch

For a thank-you letter to be personal, it needs to be written from your perspective—in the first person. Make sure the letter is personally addressed to the donor, including his or her full name, and include the donation amount and the date given. Shine a spotlight on the giver’s generosity.

5. Reread your letter

To make sure your thank-you letter is well-received, read it out loud before you send it. Would you want to receive this message? You want your letter to sound casual and friendly, but it should also be thoughtful and free of errors. Spell-check everything you write.

Sample thank-you letters

Here are some simple templates to start with. Be sure to add a personal touch, customizing each letter for its recipient.

Thank-you letter template for a donor

Dear [donor name(s)],

I want to take the time to sincerely thank you for your donation to [campaign name]. As you know, we started this campaign to [insert reason for campaign], and your $[insert donation amount] contribution on [insert date of donation] helps us get one step closer to our goal.

Thanks again for your generosity and support,
[Handwrite your name and campaign name]

Thank-you letter template for event attendance

Dear [attendee name(s)],

I appreciate you making the effort to come to our fundraising event for [campaign name]. We had an amazing turnout, and we managed to bring in $[amount] more in donations for the campaign! Your attendance and support have played an important role in our campaign’s success—thank you.

With your contribution, we’ll be able to [reason for campaign]. Your generosity and support is an encouraging reminder of why I started this campaign—to help [beneficiary name].

With gratitude,

[Handwrite your name and campaign name]

Thank-you letter template for a business

Dear [business name],

I want to extend my sincere gratitude for [company name]’s contribution to [campaign name]. [Company name]’s generous gift will have a major impact on helping [reason for campaign].

On behalf of [beneficiary name], I want to thank you for helping us make a positive difference. Your support encourages our continued commitment to reaching our goal.

Thanks again for your generosity and support,

[Handwrite your name and campaign name]

Three ways to say thanks

Now that you’re versed in how to create a well-written donation thank-you letter, take some time to explore different ways to send your thanks. Traditional letters or inspirational cards are a great, personal option. On the other hand, technology offers other creative (and often less expensive) ways to show your appreciation.

1. Letters

You may choose the traditional route and write your letters by hand, one by one. Another option is to use a site likePostable, where you can create your own thank-you cards, using your own photos, words, and designs. Although this does cost money, buying in bulk may get you a discount.

2. Email

This is a solid option when you need to reach donors, but don’t have access to their mailing addresses. Unlike print, where including photos can be prohibitively expensive, email gives you the opportunity to easily share photos, videos, and more—so take advantage of that strength. Ideally, photos you share in email thank-you letters will show what your campaign has accomplished so far.

3. Social media messages

If you created a Facebook page for your campaign, you’ve probably interacted with some of your donors on Facebook already. While you can use private messages to send thank-you notes on Facebook (and other social media platforms), doing so can be perceived as less personal than sending similar notes via mail or email—and the impact of your message may be diluted amid the stream of social media content. One approach is to use private messages only for certain kinds of updates, or as supplements to email and/or print.

Thank you

Thanks for reading these tips on writing the perfect thank-you letter! It’s never too early to start cultivating relationships with your donors, and a donation thank-you letter is the first step. If you’re looking for other unique ways to show your gratitude, check out these20 affordable ways to say thank you to donors. For more crowdfunding advice, check out thesetips andideas.